Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Brazil rejects G7 money — accuses Macron of ‘colonialism’

The thousands of blazes in the Amazon rainforest have caused a public spat between Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been vocal about the need for an international response to the fires.

The public spat has intensified due to Bolsonaro allegedly making “extraordinarily rude” remarks about Macron’s wife on Facebook, implying that Brigitte Macron was not as good-looking as his own wife, Michelle, according to The Guardian.

Bolsonaro was not happy that Macron had tweeted that the fires burning in the Amazon basin amounted to an international crisis and should be discussed as a top priority at the G7 summit. He accused Macron of having a “colonialist mentality.”

Handout aerial picture released by Greenpeace showing smoke billowing from forest fires in the munic...

Handout aerial picture released by Greenpeace showing smoke billowing from forest fires in the municipality of Candeias do Jamari, close to Porto Velho in Rondonia State, in the Amazon basin in northwestern Brazil, on August 24, 2019
Victor MORIYAMA, GREENPEACE/AFP


Rejection of funds
The special communications office for the Brazilian president told CNN on Tuesday that the country would turn down the money that was pledged at the G7 summit in France on Monday. Bolsonaro’s Chief of Staff, Onyx Lorenzoni, told the Globo news website: “Thanks, but maybe those resources are more relevant to reforest Europe.”

“Macron cannot even avoid a predictable fire in a church that is part of the world’s heritage, and he wants to give us lessons for our country?” Mr. Lorenzoni added, in a reference to the fire that hit Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris in April, reports The BBC.

Turning down the $22 million in G7 funds came after Macron had gone on French television Monday night reiterated that the Amazon was a global issue and intensified his criticism of Bolsonaro.

“We respect your sovereignty. It’s your country,” Macron said. But the trees in the Amazon are “the lungs of the planet,” he added.
“The Amazon forest is a subject for the whole planet. We can help you reforest. We can find the means for your economic development that respects the natural balance. But we cannot allow you to destroy everything.”

Avatar photo
Written By

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

You may also like:

Social Media

Ottawa said Wednesday it is shutting TikTok's operations in Canada following a security review.

Life

The calculations show that Denmark, one of the most expensive countries in Europe and the world

Social Media

Australia will move to pass new laws banning children under 16 from social media.

World

Fierce gusts up to 80 miles (130 kilometers) an hour were pushing smoke sideways and fueling flames that were scorching through California farmland -...